BRIAN VANDER ARK: DEAD AND BREAKFAST'S PRIDE AND JOY by Brian Kirst

Brian Vander Ark is one of the most talented, down to earth musicians around. After hitting big in the mid 90's with Verve Pipe, he is now a solo touring artist and started appearing in films, in 1999, including 'Rock Star' with Mark Wahlberg. Recently, he has gotten involved in the genre film-making process. He composed the original score for and appeared in 'Dead and Breakfast' which Rue Morgue Magazine called 2005's Best Independent Horror Film of the Year. I was lucky enough to catch up with him and do a quick online interview with him this past September.


 

 
 
Brian K: I think that you are one of the best songwriters around. Do you write from a more personal or universal perspective - or a combination of the two?

Brian V: -- Definitely universal. I take people's stories and try to create songs around them.

Brian K: You've worked with some great producers - Jerry Harrison, Adam Schlesinger.... Do you have any favorite studio stories?

Brian V: -- Only those times that we caught Jerry Harrison sleeping while we were recording. The first time we played 'The Freshmen' for him, he fell asleep!

Brian K: This is probably an oft-asked question, but I gotta do it!!! I know that the song originated long before Verve Pipe, but was there a specific incident or inspiration for 'The Freshman'? It is one of the greatest rock ballads of the 90s. Classic!

Brian V: -- There's an archive of the meaning of the freshmen www.atthevervepipe.com bulletin board. It has all of the answers.

Brian K: Do you have a favorite Verve Pipe (full length) recording? (I think my favorite is "Underneath" - Love it!!!)

Brian V: -- "Underneath" is my favorite as well. It was the best recording experience (due to Adam Schlesinger) and the record sounds great. It's some of our best work.

Brian K: How did your involvement in 'Rock Star' come about? Was acting something that you had been interested in for a while or did you just fall into it?

Brian V -- I was asked to write the song for the movie, so they sent me a script and I went to work. I had done a little acting, so I asked to audition as well. I got the part, and they used the song.

Brian K: How did you get involved with 'Dead and Breakfast'?

Brian V: -- The director is a fan of mine, and asked me to do it...for free! I'm getting repaid by doing his newest one though, called "Unearthed".

Brian K: Do you have any interesting stories from the filming of that bar sequence? What a hoot! Plus - how cool is Gina Phillips? I've thought that she is one of the best actresses around ever since her kick-ass performance in 'Jeepers Creepers'!

Brian V: -- I liked Gina. People thought that she was a little spoiled, but she was seeing my friend Devon (Gummersol) at the time, and she was just a sweetheart to me. Plus she's great at what she does.

Brian K: Finally- Are there any tours, upcoming c.d. releases.... that we should be aware of?

Brian V: -- I have an album in the works that will be out early next year...check out www.bvamusic.com ! Later!